Tunis, April 2 (TAP) - The Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) on Thursday announced in a press release, the opening of applications for accreditation of observers, local and foreign journalists and invited guests, for observing and...»»»

The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights wants authorities in El Salvador to reconsider constitutional and legal changes that allow life sentences for minors as young as 12. File Photo by Rodrigo Sura/EPA April 2 (UPI) -- The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human»»»

Three new secretaries have been appointed to Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova has appointed three new secretaries in her administration since taking office on January 20: Meglena Plugchieva, Kristiela Simeonova, and Milena Dimitrova, according to information on the President's website. Plugchieva »»»

NOVI SAD - The head of the Vojvodina provincial government Maja Gojkovic met on Thursday in Novi Sad with a delegation of China's Hebei province, headed by Governor Wang Zhengpu. The parties noted that firm foundations were in place for strengthening the cooperation in areas of mutual interest. In »»»

Manila: The Philippines has secured assurances from Iran for the safe passage of its ships and seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, following high-level diplomatic outreach ordered by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said she held a “very productive” phone call o»»»

CAIRO: The State of Qatar participated in the extraordinary session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the level of permanent representatives, held at the League's headquarters in Cairo. The session addressed Israeli crimes and violations in occupied Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christ»»»

1 of 6 | The Earth is seen from NASA’s Orion spacecraft as it orbits above the planet during the Artemis II test flight. NASA astronauts launched at 6:35 p.m. EDT on Wednesday for a 10-day mission around the Moon and back to Earth. Image courtesy of NASA April 2 (UPI) -- The Artemis II astronauts h»»»

In our ongoing weekly digest, award-winning journalist Veronika Munk summarises and explains the most important political developments in Hungary. We guide readers on the route to the crunch 12 April 2026 election — a poll without precedent in the region over the past 15 years. This week, we cover:»»»

London: Shipping companies from Greece, the UAE and China are most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from Bloomberg and marine traffic organisations. Around 670 commodity vessels sent signals from west of the Strait of Hormuz over the last day, with companies from t»»»

NEW YORK: The State of Qatar has sent a 10th identical letter to Secretary-General of the United Nations HE Antonio Guterres, and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for April, HE Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, regarding the latest »»»

New York: The State of Qatar has sent a 10th identical letter to HE Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, and HE Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of April, Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, regardin»»»

Dubai: Airfares from the UAE are climbing sharply as airlines grapple with a surge in jet fuel prices, tighter capacity and operational disruptions linked to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. For travellers planning summer holidays or last-minute trips, the message is becoming »»»

Several tour guides in Nepal ran a fake helicopter rescue racket to defraud insurance companies in Australia and the UK, the Kathmandu Post has reported. Investigations by the paper revealed that the guides first staged a medical emergency, called in a helicopter, and checked tourists into a hospit»»»

Polls ahead of the Hungarian elections point to an opposition victory, but players behind the scenes expect Prime Minister Viktor Orban to come out on top. Others say it’s a scenario ripe for a Kiev-style ‘color revolution’. READ MORE: Battle for Hungary: EU attacks on Orban are a sign of worse thi»»»

Three new secretaries have been appointed to President Iliana Iotova since she took office at the end of January, shows information on the President's website. They are Meglena Plugchieva, Kristiela Simeonova, and Milena Dimitrova. Plugchieva has been appointed Secretary for Foreign Policy. She has»»»

In a step reflecting a strategic shift in regional energy routes, Baghdad has officially begun exporting crude oil via Syria, in an effort to bypass the paralysis that has affected traditional maritime trade corridors. The move, which Damascus described as a return to its role as a “transit compass»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Athletes Commission of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) held its Ordinary General Assembly meeting 2026 on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Secretary-General of the Commission Mutaz Essa Barshim, in the presence of Assistant Secretary-General of the Athletes Commission Nada Mo»»»

At this point, more than half a million euros have been seized in police operations related to the upcoming elections, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said in a video published on his Facebook page on Thursday. According to him, this is the budget of a small municipality. “Against this sum, t»»»

When three villagers from China’s Sichuan Province wrote to local officials in 2022 questioning why the government was confiscating their land and evicting them from their homes, they received a brief response: "It is a state secret." An investigation by CNN revealed that this secret centers on Chi»»»

COSMO PHARM, one of Romania’s most prominent producers of dietary supplements, has continued to expand its network of retail partners, achieving a 25% increase in 2025 compared to 2024. This growth has directly enhanced the visibility of the company’s products, which are now available in over 1,000»»»

Dubai: Pakistan has stepped up high-level diplomatic engagement with the United States and regional stakeholders in a bid to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, positioning itself as a key facilitator for dialogue amid a conflict that has rattled global energy markets and heightened geopolitic»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah City Municipality has issued a set of guidelines to curb mosquito breeding during the rainy season, urging residents to take preventive measures to protect public health and maintain environmental standards. The municipality highlighted that Puddle or standing water remains the»»»

Dubai: Japan has introduced a major reform to its family law, allowing divorced couples to share custody of their children for the first time. The amendment to its Civil Code, which took effect starting this April, has marked a step away from the system that granted custody to only one parent after»»»

Manila: Manny Pacquiao's planned September fight with Floyd Mayweather will not be an exhibition, the Philippine boxing legend said Thursday, days after his fellow hall of famer said their bout would be strictly entertainment. Netflix last month announced a long-awaited rematch of the highest-gross»»»

The UAE Ministry of Defence said on Thursday that air defenses engaged 19 ballistic missiles and 26 drones originating from Iran. Since the start of Iran's brazen attacks, the UAE air defenses have engaged 457 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and 2,038 drones. The attacks have resulted in ca»»»

India’s massive condom industry is facing major disruptions due to material shortages and soaring production costs linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East, local media reports, citing manufacturers. India produces over 6 billion condoms annually in a high-volume, low-margin market worth $860 m»»»

The King Charles III House in Viscri brings to Romania the exhibition of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, ‘Marie of Romania: Artist Queen. A Floral Conversation,’ dedicated to the artistic universe of Queen Marie of Romania and her fascination with the flora of her adopted country. After »»»

Dubai: Nearly everyone in the UAE knows seat belts save lives. About 95 per cent of residents, in fact. So why are only 24 per cent of rear-seat passengers actually wearing one? A new survey in the UAE has identified what it calls the single biggest opportunity to reduce road fatalities in the coun»»»

The Bulgarian brewing sector has consolidated its position as one of the most dynamically developing production branches in the country. With increased investments, innovations and adaptation to consumer attitudes, the industry has made a significant contribution to the economy, regional growth and»»»

Dubai: US President Donald Trump’s claim that he no longer “cares” about Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile is raising fresh doubts about why the war was launched at all. For weeks, Trump had framed the conflict as an urgent bid to stop Tehran from building a nuclear bomb, warning Iran was ju»»»

Wolt, the local commerce platform connecting users with restaurants and shops, has announced a leadership restructure in Romania. Alexandru Ștefan, currently Head of Account Management, will take on the additional responsibility of Country Lead for Wolt Romania. The transition aims to ensure busine»»»

Caretaker Energy Minister Traicho Traikov held a working meeting with representatives of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (KRIB) and the Bulgarian Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers (BFIEC), the Energy Ministry reported here on Thursday. Talks focused on options »»»

DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with President of the Democratic Republic of Congo HE Félix Tshisekedi at Lusail Palace to discuss regional and international developments. The president expressed his country's solidarity with Qatar following the»»»

Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, met with Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The meeting took place as part of the second meeting of the Heads of Government and Vice Presidents of the»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani reviewed with His Excellency Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the developments in regional and international situations, during a meeting held at Lusail Palace today, April 2, 2026. President Tshiseke»»»

Dubai: Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has published a comprehensive framework setting out minimum quality standards that private K-12 schools must meet during periods of distance and online learning. The guidelines, titled Quality Expectations for Effective Distance Learni»»»

The preservation of the Maritsa East 3 Thermal Power Plant (TPP) is key to the economy of Haskovo Region, said Vazrazhdane's top-of-the-list candidate in Haskovo Georgi Georgiev, as quoted by the party's press centre on Thursday. Energy is a matter of national security and must be safeguarded throu»»»

Dubai: A rare and endangered golden monkey has been born at Pairi Daiza, marking the first such birth in Belgium and a significant milestone for conservation efforts in Europe. The baby monkey, born on March 17, 2026, is reported to be in good health and is being closely cared for by its mother, de»»»

Dubai: The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has forecast a notable weather shift across the UAE this weekend, with fog alerts, rising temperatures, and a chance of rain set to affect residents and travellers from Friday through Sunday. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app»»»

India's defense exports "skyrocketed" to an all-time high of more than $4 billion in the last fiscal year, as it looks to boost its arms manufacturing sector, the government said Thursday. The figures mark a rise of more than 60 percent from 2024, the defense ministry said, and provide a shot in th»»»

The Dacian golden helmet of Coțofenești, one of Romania’s most significant archaeological treasures, reportedly stolen during the 2025 heist at the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands, may have been recovered, according to sources close to the investigation. The development was first signaled b»»»

OVERVIEW No single issue dominates Thursday’s media, but the note sent by Iran to Bulgaria, the security agreement signed between Bulgaria and Ukraine, and the justice minister’s request for the disciplinary dismissal of the acting prosecutor general, are among the main topics. POLITICS Speaking on»»»

Canberra, Australia: Exposure to extreme heat is increasing the risk of babies being born underweight, according to new research led by Australia's Adelaide University. The study analyzed health data from more than 85,000 mothers and babies in Pakistan, combining 10 years of birth records (2008-201»»»

Delegates stand and applaud after the adoption of the text of the High Seas Treaty at the United Nations headquarters in New York on June 19, 2023. File Photo by Justin Lane/EPA April 2 (UPI) -- Delegates were gathered in the busy corridors at United Nations headquarters in New York this week for a»»»

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - India's arms exports reached a new all-time high in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, totaling $4.1 billion, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday. "India's defense exports set a new historical high, reaching a record 384.2 billion rupees [$4.1 billion] in the 2025-2026 fis»»»

Dubai: Elon Musk’s SpaceX has taken a key step toward what could become the largest stock market debut in history, after confidentially filing for an initial public offering in the US. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The company submitted draft registration documents t»»»

April is World Autism Acceptance Month. It is a moment that has shifted from awareness to acceptance – a distinction worth pausing on. Awareness tells us something exists. Acceptance asks us what we do about it. Walk into almost any school staffroom, workplace, or family gathering and ask what peop»»»

The security features of Kyrgyzstan’s national currency, the som, are at a high level. Guras Japarov, a Doctor of Economics, said on Birinchi Radio. According to him, the National Bank uses different security elements for each denomination, all meeting required standards. «The som is generally very»»»

Speaking on Nova TV on Thursday, Bulgaria’s caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said that a note is a normal diplomatic practice in a period of tensions and crises. "It is not a threat but a warning," she added, regarding a note sent by Iran to Bulgaria. "In such diplomatic notes during war»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s housing market is beginning to diverge across cities, with Jeddah recording its strongest year in recent memory while Riyadh shows signs of strain and Dammam gains ground on pricing appeal. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.According to Cavendish Ma»»»